Lili Reinhart recalls toxic on-set encounter with male director

Lili Reinhart has spoken out about a distressing experience on a previous film set, where a male director made inappropriate comments regarding her physical appearance.

During a promotional video for her new film, Forbidden Fruits, the Riverdale alumna responded to a question about the most personal acting note she had ever received.

Reinhart recalled a moment when a male director "silently leaned over" and instructed her to "just suck in your stomach a little bit."

While her co-stars Victoria Pedretti, Alexandra Shipp, and Lola Tung encouraged her to identify the individual, the 29-year-old actress declined to name him, simply teasing, "Tell you later."

The revelation came as Reinhart promoted her latest project, a female-led horror-comedy directed by Meredith Alloway. Starring as Apple, the leader of a witchy femme cult operating out of a Dallas mall store called Free Eden, Reinhart noted how different the environment felt compared to previous toxic sets.

Speaking at the Deadline SXSW Studio, she described the production as the "ultimate collaboration," particularly regarding her character’s wardrobe.

"For Apple, it’s a lot of black and tight, but it’s not for the male gaze. It’s for herself," Reinhart explained, adding that the aesthetic was designed to project a "stay the f*ck away from me" energy rather than to invite scrutiny.

Forbidden Fruits made its world premiere at SXSW on 16 March 2026 and was released in United States theatres on 27 March.

The film, which also features Emma Chamberlain and Gabrielle Union, has been praised for its campy, satirical take on female friendship and cult dynamics. 

As Reinhart continues to advocate for safer and more inclusive working environments in Hollywood, her performance as the "deliciously deadly" Apple has been highlighted by critics as a career-defining turn.